WA State Law Limiting Blade Length Proposed

December 13, 2010

Rep. Appleton bill would mean that the average fisherman, fishing one of Washington’s many coastal areas or rivers whose jacket falls over their 6-inch filet knife would suddenly be committing a crime. Washington has many hunters and is a popular hunting destination for those who travel to hunt. The average hunting knife is considerably longer than the arbitrary 3 1/2- inch limit, exposing hunters to committing an unintentional crime as well. But, the most egregious aspect of this proposed law will be to render illegal many simple pocket knives that law-abiding citizens carry everyday for work and recreation.

“Why anyone would go back to this 1950’s legislative mentality is beyond me,” said Doug Ritter, Chairman of Knife Rights. “While many states are modernizing or eliminating restrictive laws coving the essential tools millions of Americans carry for everyday chores, we now have a legislator in Washington State who thinks it’s a good idea to go backwards.”

The following Letter to the Editor was submitted to the New York Times referencing the article that was published in the Sunday New York Times, December 5th. It was not selected for publication.

Editor New York Times 620 8th Avenue New York, NY 10018

Dear Editor:

Thank you for focusing attention on the overreaching of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr., and his assault on knife-owners (“Pushing a Right to Bear Arms, The Sharp Kind,” The New York Times, Sunday, December 5, Page 1).

The accompanying photo, of knives seized by Vanceâ€™s office, shows how badly he is misreading New York law.

While pointy edges can be intimidating, not one of the knives depicted are illegal in New York, which forbids only switchblades, gravity knives and stilettos. Each of the knives in the photo is a perfectly legal “one-hand opening” knife — as are 80 percent of the pocketknives sold in the U.S.

Besides being legal in New York, Congress last year specifically exempted them from the provisions of the Federal Switchblade Act, after the Customs Service proposed redefining these knives as switchblades and gravity knives.

Knife Rights Foundation is committed to protecting the rights of honest, law abiding citizens of New York in opposing DA Vance’s overreaching and abuse of the law.

Sincerely,

Doug Ritter Founder and Chairman Knife Rights Foundation

Knife Rights Foundation is leading the legal fight against New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance, Jr’s assault on our pocketknives. Help us stop this insanity.

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